Living in Bangkok

Living in Bangkok sounds so far away and exotic to many of you. Thailand may be on the other side of the world and seems like a mysterious place yet to be explored. To us, Bangkok is just home.

Jammy was raised in Bangkok and lived here for much of her young life. Adam had travelled to Thailand many times to train and teach martial arts, but never spent a single night in Bangkok until he met Jammy.

In 2014, we decided to move from New York to Bangkok to simplify our lives and also for Jammy to pursue optimal career opportunities in her home country, which had changed so dramatically from the time either of us saw it last! Bangkok was always the cultural and economical focal point of Thailand. However, when we moved here, nothing could have prepared us for the sweeping changes that had occurred during the 9 years we lived together in America.

Development has a way of exponentially accelerating with time. In 9 years spent away, the city had grown tremendously in construction and international offerings. Bangkok always had a very multicultural demeanor, but foreign products and services were virtually nonexistent in years past and came at exorbitant cost when they were available. Bangkok is now a commerce capital, offering products that we never even saw in America! We were originally so afraid that we would have to do without many of the things we loved, but it turned out that our fears were largely unjustified.

Bangkok is a great city, but it is not right for everyone. If you are looking for financially rewarding work, it is probably the best place to live in Thailand. However, if you can work remotely or do not need to work, then we would highly recommend living elsewhere, as basically the entire rest of the country offers more relaxing and cost effective options. However, if you love big cities (and Bangkok is huge!), then the flavor of The Big Mango might just perfectly suit you.

Here are some fast facts for you, if you are considering spending some time here or possibly even living in Bangkok full time:

Thailand uses a local census for population statistics. However, probably half the country lives and works in Bangkok at any given time, even though their government credentials show them living somewhere else. This makes Bangkok one of the most populous of all cities in the world. Do not go by the “official” population statistics!

Bangkok is also a huge, sprawling city covering 1569 square kilometers. All 5 boros of New York are roughly half the size at only 789 square kilometers!

Bangkok is the most expensive place to live in Thailand, with a few enclave exceptions. However, there are great bargains to be found and most foreigners from developed nations will save significantly living here compared to life in their home countries. Many expats say that they can afford a much better standard of living here at a lower cost. Meanwhile, Thai people from the countryside complain how expensive everything is in Bangkok. They are both right!

Traffic is terrible in Bangkok! It is officially the worst in the world actually. You can sit in traffic for hours to go a few kilometers. Additionally the cost of owning a car is very high. It is amazing to us how many Thai people have cars, given their tremendous cost. Creative financing in Thailand is a high art form!

Transportation is Bangkok comes in a diversity of forms, including taxis, Grab cars, public buses, river boats both large and small, train, BTS Sky Train, MRT subway, tuk tuks and motorcycle taxis. Local neighborhoods are often served by additional transport options, such as covered pickup trucks that stay on fixed routes.

Walking is a great way to get around, but be careful, since the walkways are often treacherous, with uneven pavement, lots of obstacles, space-hogging vendors and “cell phone zombies” everywhere. (Cell phone zombies are people who walk about in a daze while staring at their phones. They will often bump right into you if you do not take avoidance measures!) Additionally, do not be surprised to see motorcycles driving on the sidewalk and cars coming up to park where you are walking. Always keep your eyes open! Pedestrians certainly do not have the right of way in practical day to day Thai life.

Thai food represents one of the best values in the city. You can eat well for really a pittance. However, know that most eateries use tons of sugar, salt and MSG in food, so be sure to order to suit your tastes and health conditions! There is an exploding epidemic of obesity in Thailand and if you see how most food is prepared commercially, you will surely understand why. There are certainly healthy options available, including juicing establishments, vegetarian and vegan food and even gluten-free options, but these are far from mainstream.

Bangkok is a fantastic hub for Asian travel. We are so lucky to be able to easily reach all of Asia with a short flight. We have taken full advantage of this benefit at both of the 2 major airports within half hour of our condo. Want to travel in Thailand or go to Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar or Vietnam? You can get there is about an hour. Want to go to The Philippines, Indonesia, China, Japan, India or Maldives (one of our favorites)? 4 to 5 hours will get you there, as well.

Bangkok is not very eco-friendly. However, you can help in that regard. Never litter, tell vendors you do not need plastic bags or straws and do your best to avoid the use of disposable plastic bottles whenever possible. Thank you!

Please don’t think that all of Bangkok looks like those YouTube videos of the naughty nightlife. This is a complete misconception on the part of many people outside of Thailand. Bangkok has a few seedy areas, but is mostly a great city with tons of interesting small communities overflowing with charm and plenty of grit, as well. If you like your culture a bit raw and unfiltered, then Bangkok is really a dream destination, particularly for photographers.

Thinking about buying a condo in Bangkok or maybe a house? There are many things that you need to know, so definitely read more on those subjects before taking one step further.

Want to know more about Bangkok? Why not come to visit? The whole city is accessible to you! Come see Bangkok for yourself and use it as a great base to explore the rest of Thailand.